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Princeton Review Recognizes UCM

Contact: Jeff Murphy
WARRENSBURG - 05/01/2007 -
Praising the institution for qualities that include a beautiful, welcoming campus and low student-debt load, The Princeton Review has named the University of Central Missouri "one of the nation's best value undergraduate institutions."

The Maastricht Friendship Tower on the UCM campus

The New York-based education services company features UCM in its new 2008 edition of the book, "America's Best Value Colleges," (Random House/Princeton Review.) The guide profiles 165 colleges chosen for their excellent academics, generous financial aid packages and/or relatively low costs of attendance.

"Great Value"

In the book's narrative of Central Missouri, Princeton Review's editors say "UCM has one of the lowest student-debt ratios in the state, making it even more attractive to students who seek a quality education without breaking the proverbial bank. Affordable tuition coupled with strong scholarship and award programs makes this college a great value."

Financial Aid a Strength of UCM

The editors note that in 2005-06 roughly 60 percent of undergraduates received need-based aid, and 90 percent of their need was met with average financial aid packages of $7,340. The university also gave out $20 million in need- and merit-based grants and scholarships.

The Princeton Review selected the schools for the book based on data it obtained from administrators at more than 650 colleges during the 2005-06 academic year, and its surveys of students attending the schools.

Excellent Academic Programs

Based on this input, UCM is cited by Princeton Review as a place where students flock to programs such as aviation, education, criminal justice, and business, and enjoy the personal attention that comes from small classes. The book also offers student comments. One of them notes about the campus: "Very diverse! There are many nontraditional students, so in any class there are people of different ages, nationalities, religious and political beliefs. They fit in because there is such a range of people; there are many clubs, groups, and fellow students that have similar qualities and the different people all mingle pretty well."

UCM spring 2006 graduates enjoy commencement

According to Princeton Review's Vice President of Publishing Robert Franek, "We considered over 30 factors to identify our ‘best value' colleges. They covered four areas: academics, tuition GPA (the sticker price minus average amount students receive in scholarships and grants), financial aid (how well colleges meet students' financial need), and student borrowing."

"The 90 public and 75 private colleges we chose for this edition offer a terrific education, plus they have impressive records of meeting students' need for financial aid," Franek said. "We highly recommend them as America's best college education deals for 2007."

Learn More about the Princeton Review

Please visit the Princeton Review web site to review its list of 165 best value schools.

"America's Best Value Colleges" has three-page profiles on the colleges and lists of the top 10 best value private colleges and the top 10 best value public colleges overall in the book. Schools are not ranked in the book one to 165. The book also offers advice about apply for college admission and financial aid.